From the sphere of intellectual property practice or technology transfer practice - there is such a thing as "technology transfer practice" and there are such people as "technology transfer practitioners" - and they aren't all lawyers, although many of them are, as are the authors of subject book. See http://www.core77.com/blog/book_reviews/book_review_from_edison_to_ipod_by_frederick_mostert_and_lawrence_apolzon_5865.asp for a full review.
My take: an entertaining summary intro to a complex topic, though, as the linked review points out, it doesn't give the whole picture of swimming in the IP shark pond. The industrial-design emphasis with lots of pictures made it a fun read, also recalling a related museum fave, http://www.mak.at/e/jetzt/f_jetzt.htm .
For deeper IP inquiries, a couple of possible resources are: The Technology Transfer System, by Alfred Muir http://www.amazon.com/Technology-Transfer-System-Inventions-Management/dp/0965759768 [may be out of print] and Marketing of High-Technology Products and Innovations http://www.markethightech.net/ - the 2001 edition of which anticipates Clayton Christensen's "disruptive technologies/innovator's dilemma" concept and sources him a number of times; presently in a 3rd edition as an edited volume with Jakki Mohr and co-editors.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
Mergers and Acquisitions - more
Reportedly this is a good source for M&A training: http://amaaonline.com/education .
According to one source, Chicago, Cornell, and Yale MBA schools are also good training sources. I don't know how accessible these would be to most mid-career professionals contemplating a switch, but something to consider if you're starting out.
According to one source, Chicago, Cornell, and Yale MBA schools are also good training sources. I don't know how accessible these would be to most mid-career professionals contemplating a switch, but something to consider if you're starting out.
Good observations on doctoral programs
This article, which seems to be written for people outside the US or UK contemplating graduate study in the US or UK, has some good points:
http://www.infozee.com/channels/ms/articles/doctoral.htm.
The overall http://www.infozee.com website also appears to be quite good. This is useful, especially for a topic which generates so much useless noise and huckstering.
The doctoral degree (also referred to as a Ph.D.) is the highest degree awarded by the universities, and is done so after an extensive program of study and research in a specialized subject. The degree signifies a capability to assimilate the most advanced and recondite level of knowledge in the subject. The degree is crowned with a doctoral thesis, which is expected to be a thorough and intensive contribution to a specialized subject based on original research and inquiry.
As is obvious from the above, a prerequisite for pursuing a doctoral degree is an active interest in, and the inclination to do, intensive research work. It requires putting in long and laborious hours of study at a microcosmic level on a specific subject. In this way, a doctoral degree is quite an antithesis of the master's degree, which covers a broad range of subjects in a particular field of study.
Eligibility : A common misconception is that a master's degree is a prerequisite for the doctoral degree. It is an advantage but is not necessary. For 3-year degree holders, it is not possible to enroll directly for a Ph.D program. Some universities do consider admission into a Ph.D directly after a Bachelors degree, if pre-requisite scores, academics and experience are sound. You must demonstrate an inclination towards research and exhibit a good academic record.
Experience of atleast two to three years in the relevant field is considered important for admission into a Doctoral program, by most universities.
How the Doctoral Application Process works :
The application process has to be initiated atleast one year to eighteen months in advance before the proposed date of reporting at the university. This is necessary since identification of professors, interaction with them and finalizing the program of research with necessary financial assistance can take a long time.
For any graduate programme, more so for a doctoral, the applicant has to contend with two sets of requirements - those set by the graduate school and those set by the graduate department. You have to meet up with the eligibility requirements of the university and also find a match between your area of specialisation and the research interests of the department you will be studying in.
Choose your subject : The first step towards applying is deciding on a subject for your doctorate. The essential aspect here is to focus on as specific a field of study as you possibly can; thus saying that you wish to do a doctorate in Electrical Engineering is not good enough, you have to be more specific than that (say, doctorate in Power Transmission and transmission losses, which is a specific field within the broad ambit of Electrical Engineering). Spend time on deciding this - the critical factor here is a very high level of interest in the specific field you choose. In fact, some experts recommend that you should have a rough idea of what your research topic in the doctoral program is going to be even before you apply for admission.
Prepare for the standardised tests : The GRE is required for most doctoral programs in the engineering and other non-management related fields. In the top graduate schools, securing a doctoral berth is a tough proposition because they are very choosy about admitting research candidates. In fact, most schools have a strict ceiling of the number of doctoral candidates they admit, which can be as low as five students in a calendar year. Most universities require the general GRE test as well as the Subject GRE test, with excellent scores. Check this with the university you intend to apply to. You will also be required to take the TOEFL and the TSE.
Choose Universities : Along with your test preparation for GRE, Subject GRE, TOEFL and TSE, you must start identifying universities that are good in the area that you want to specialise in. You must check the research interests of the department under which your research area falls.
Contact the departments and Professors : After identifying a suitable list of universities and their departments, you should identify Professors who could be interested to work with you in your research area. You could do so by visiting the university web sites and getting the names and contact email IDs of the professors.
Start corresponding with the professors by indicating your interest to work under them. Indicate as clearly as possible the subject of your research and what qualifies you to be successful at it.
You must initiate this process with as many universities as you can. There will be some Professors who will not be interested in your research area. Identify those that are, and go ahead and complete the application procedure of those universities.
Follow the Application process of the university : Submit your application to the university, follow their time deadlines, and comply with all requirements.
Project yourself well : An essential part of the application is the statement of purpose (SOP) which all graduate schools require you to write. This statement should clearly bring out your interest in the field in which you wish to do a Ph.D. Any previous research experience in that field will work to your advantage.
Financing your Doctoral Study : Getting financial aid for a doctoral programme is fairly easy. Most universities will give you a full financial aid, which will cover your tuition fees and living expenses. The aid is given either semester wise or on yearly basis. You have to apply for financial aid by indicating your interest in your admission application form.
The content of the Doctoral Programme
The doctoral programme is divided into two parts, pre-dissertation study and the doctoral thesis. Once admitted, you are required to spend the first year or so in acquiring a solid foundation in the advanced knowledge of your chosen field. This entails regular course work - you might have to attend lectures and seminars with the master's degree students of your stream. This course work culminates in a "qualifying examination", on clearing which you are formally admitted to candidacy for a doctoral degree.
In the second and final stage of the pre-dissertation study, you are expected to acquire expertise in a specialized field within your chosen discipline. Thus, if your doctoral subject was organisational behaviour, you may have narrowed down your research interest to "leadership", an important element within organisational behaviour. This stage too ends in an examination, including an oral one, upon passing which you are considered ready to begin work on your thesis.
The Doctoral Thesis : This final stage of the doctoral study is usually regarded as the most important, during which you have to complete a dissertation (a detailed study on a topic, which can be as specific as "Employee motivation at the XYZ Corporation", but should contribute to the existing level of knowledge in that field of study. During the research, you will be assigned to an advisor with whom you are required to work in close association. This advisor is usually a faculty member most knowledgeable about the special area of dissertation research.
Thesis research and preparation is a highly cognitive process. The culmination of the process is in the form of the final thesis defense, in which you are presumed to be an expert in your field and are supposed to literally defend your findings and conclusions on the subject in front of a committee. The completed dissertation becomes a public document, placed in the university library and also often published in the university journal or even on its web site in some cases.
How long does it take?
The entire process of getting a doctorate degree usually takes a minimum of three-and-a-half years, nearly two of which are spent exclusively in preparing the thesis. The degree usually leads to employment in the academic world, but in recent years, more and more doctorates are finding employment in the professional world at par with or even ahead of other professionals.
http://www.infozee.com/channels/ms/articles/doctoral.htm.
The overall http://www.infozee.com website also appears to be quite good. This is useful, especially for a topic which generates so much useless noise and huckstering.
The doctoral degree (also referred to as a Ph.D.) is the highest degree awarded by the universities, and is done so after an extensive program of study and research in a specialized subject. The degree signifies a capability to assimilate the most advanced and recondite level of knowledge in the subject. The degree is crowned with a doctoral thesis, which is expected to be a thorough and intensive contribution to a specialized subject based on original research and inquiry.
As is obvious from the above, a prerequisite for pursuing a doctoral degree is an active interest in, and the inclination to do, intensive research work. It requires putting in long and laborious hours of study at a microcosmic level on a specific subject. In this way, a doctoral degree is quite an antithesis of the master's degree, which covers a broad range of subjects in a particular field of study.
Eligibility : A common misconception is that a master's degree is a prerequisite for the doctoral degree. It is an advantage but is not necessary. For 3-year degree holders, it is not possible to enroll directly for a Ph.D program. Some universities do consider admission into a Ph.D directly after a Bachelors degree, if pre-requisite scores, academics and experience are sound. You must demonstrate an inclination towards research and exhibit a good academic record.
Experience of atleast two to three years in the relevant field is considered important for admission into a Doctoral program, by most universities.
How the Doctoral Application Process works :
The application process has to be initiated atleast one year to eighteen months in advance before the proposed date of reporting at the university. This is necessary since identification of professors, interaction with them and finalizing the program of research with necessary financial assistance can take a long time.
For any graduate programme, more so for a doctoral, the applicant has to contend with two sets of requirements - those set by the graduate school and those set by the graduate department. You have to meet up with the eligibility requirements of the university and also find a match between your area of specialisation and the research interests of the department you will be studying in.
Choose your subject : The first step towards applying is deciding on a subject for your doctorate. The essential aspect here is to focus on as specific a field of study as you possibly can; thus saying that you wish to do a doctorate in Electrical Engineering is not good enough, you have to be more specific than that (say, doctorate in Power Transmission and transmission losses, which is a specific field within the broad ambit of Electrical Engineering). Spend time on deciding this - the critical factor here is a very high level of interest in the specific field you choose. In fact, some experts recommend that you should have a rough idea of what your research topic in the doctoral program is going to be even before you apply for admission.
Prepare for the standardised tests : The GRE is required for most doctoral programs in the engineering and other non-management related fields. In the top graduate schools, securing a doctoral berth is a tough proposition because they are very choosy about admitting research candidates. In fact, most schools have a strict ceiling of the number of doctoral candidates they admit, which can be as low as five students in a calendar year. Most universities require the general GRE test as well as the Subject GRE test, with excellent scores. Check this with the university you intend to apply to. You will also be required to take the TOEFL and the TSE.
Choose Universities : Along with your test preparation for GRE, Subject GRE, TOEFL and TSE, you must start identifying universities that are good in the area that you want to specialise in. You must check the research interests of the department under which your research area falls.
Contact the departments and Professors : After identifying a suitable list of universities and their departments, you should identify Professors who could be interested to work with you in your research area. You could do so by visiting the university web sites and getting the names and contact email IDs of the professors.
Start corresponding with the professors by indicating your interest to work under them. Indicate as clearly as possible the subject of your research and what qualifies you to be successful at it.
You must initiate this process with as many universities as you can. There will be some Professors who will not be interested in your research area. Identify those that are, and go ahead and complete the application procedure of those universities.
Follow the Application process of the university : Submit your application to the university, follow their time deadlines, and comply with all requirements.
Project yourself well : An essential part of the application is the statement of purpose (SOP) which all graduate schools require you to write. This statement should clearly bring out your interest in the field in which you wish to do a Ph.D. Any previous research experience in that field will work to your advantage.
Financing your Doctoral Study : Getting financial aid for a doctoral programme is fairly easy. Most universities will give you a full financial aid, which will cover your tuition fees and living expenses. The aid is given either semester wise or on yearly basis. You have to apply for financial aid by indicating your interest in your admission application form.
The content of the Doctoral Programme
The doctoral programme is divided into two parts, pre-dissertation study and the doctoral thesis. Once admitted, you are required to spend the first year or so in acquiring a solid foundation in the advanced knowledge of your chosen field. This entails regular course work - you might have to attend lectures and seminars with the master's degree students of your stream. This course work culminates in a "qualifying examination", on clearing which you are formally admitted to candidacy for a doctoral degree.
In the second and final stage of the pre-dissertation study, you are expected to acquire expertise in a specialized field within your chosen discipline. Thus, if your doctoral subject was organisational behaviour, you may have narrowed down your research interest to "leadership", an important element within organisational behaviour. This stage too ends in an examination, including an oral one, upon passing which you are considered ready to begin work on your thesis.
The Doctoral Thesis : This final stage of the doctoral study is usually regarded as the most important, during which you have to complete a dissertation (a detailed study on a topic, which can be as specific as "Employee motivation at the XYZ Corporation", but should contribute to the existing level of knowledge in that field of study. During the research, you will be assigned to an advisor with whom you are required to work in close association. This advisor is usually a faculty member most knowledgeable about the special area of dissertation research.
Thesis research and preparation is a highly cognitive process. The culmination of the process is in the form of the final thesis defense, in which you are presumed to be an expert in your field and are supposed to literally defend your findings and conclusions on the subject in front of a committee. The completed dissertation becomes a public document, placed in the university library and also often published in the university journal or even on its web site in some cases.
How long does it take?
The entire process of getting a doctorate degree usually takes a minimum of three-and-a-half years, nearly two of which are spent exclusively in preparing the thesis. The degree usually leads to employment in the academic world, but in recent years, more and more doctorates are finding employment in the professional world at par with or even ahead of other professionals.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) - Career Switch Path
I'm exploring M&A as a career switch path. One way is to go to a good law school, make partner at a good M&A law firm, and proceed from there.
That may not be very accessible in mid-career.
Another way I've heard about is to get an MBA in finance. I've also heard that audit is a good way to go - that would depend on getting hired as an auditor.
This link mentions another credential: http://www.icaew.com/index.cfm/route/164292/icaew_ga/en/Qualifications/CFq/Corporate_Finance_qualification
That may not be very accessible in mid-career.
Another way I've heard about is to get an MBA in finance. I've also heard that audit is a good way to go - that would depend on getting hired as an auditor.
This link mentions another credential: http://www.icaew.com/index.cfm/route/164292/icaew_ga/en/Qualifications/CFq/Corporate_Finance_qualification
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Georgetown BS in Finance - a life-changer?
Jenny Sullivan Sanford, the now-apparently-estranged wife of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford who has been getting a lot of favorable press, has an interesting entry in her bio: http://jennysanford.com/.
Her education was a BS in Finance from Georgetown University McDonough School of Business: http://msb.georgetown.edu/prospective/undergraduate/programs/finance/.
That's it - no law degree, no Harvard MBA.
With that, prior to meeting Mark Sanford, she ended up rather quickly becoming an Mergers and Acquisitions VP investment banker at a major NYC investment house. I could be wrong, but that usually means you get rich fast.
I don't know what her other connections might have been (not Mark Sanford - this was prior to meeting him), but this suggests that GU/MSB may have some strong mojo magic for networking and making the right connections. The bio mentions her career matter-of-factly, but this is really quite remarkable. There aren't a lot of BS degrees that put you in this kind of power track.
Not exactly a midcareer move, but worth a thought.
Her education was a BS in Finance from Georgetown University McDonough School of Business: http://msb.georgetown.edu/prospective/undergraduate/programs/finance/.
That's it - no law degree, no Harvard MBA.
With that, prior to meeting Mark Sanford, she ended up rather quickly becoming an Mergers and Acquisitions VP investment banker at a major NYC investment house. I could be wrong, but that usually means you get rich fast.
I don't know what her other connections might have been (not Mark Sanford - this was prior to meeting him), but this suggests that GU/MSB may have some strong mojo magic for networking and making the right connections. The bio mentions her career matter-of-factly, but this is really quite remarkable. There aren't a lot of BS degrees that put you in this kind of power track.
Not exactly a midcareer move, but worth a thought.
Friday, November 27, 2009
More good advice
See http://www.bestcareer-4you.com/hot-jobs-for-a-career-change-part-1-of-3.php
Hot Jobs For A Career Change Part 1 Of 3
Trends Magazine has compiled a list of the hottest new jobs for the twenty-first century. Most of them are hot because of emerging technologies and the need for people who know about those new technologies. These jobs can be very lucrative to the person who is lucky enough to secure employment in these areas. Here they are:
-Experience Designer:
These individuals work in the retail industry, creating the essence and aura of a store. Experience designers go beyond the look of a place, creating a unique experience in which shoppers can immerse themselves. From cellular boutiques to the American Girl doll store on New York’s Fifth Avenue, the shops created by an experience designer are often considered works of art; mini universes unto themselves.
Experience designers are involved in every aspect of creation — from choosing accent colors on walls to slanting the windows in the right direction. The next time you go into a boutique and you feel as if you’ve just had an "experience" — you have, and someone went to a lot of trouble to make you feel at home.
-Medical Researcher:
It’s no news that what’s on the forefront of medicine is on the forefront of America’s collective mind. Researchers of cancer, Alzheimer’s, and the developers of prosthetics are the most coveted titles in the healthcare industry. With the aging baby boomer population, the need for cures and treatment plans is both paramount and profitable.
Major developments aren’t only taking place in medicine, but also in the way doctors file medical records. Individuals with the know-how and creative juice to mix tech with medicine can expect seven figure salaries in the year ahead.
-Web Designer:
What’s new about web designers – We already know they have cool jobs, working as the creative arm behind highly trafficked websites. But Trendsresearch.com reports that the profession is still in its adolescent phase, and for 2007 it’s going to be a new era of web design. Monster.com charts a 26 percent growth rate in this field for the past year, which will continue to blossom for the coming year.
With the advent of new flash technology, companies are looking for people who know how to implement this into their web presence since so many people rely on the Internet for information. Being a web designer is definitely one of the hottest jobs around and some companies will also let you work from home!
-Security Systems Engineer:
Monster.com reports that individuals in the protective services industry can expect a rise in demand and salary for 2007. Advances in Vegas-Casino like security systems and satellite maps are helping to wire the world for defense.
Individuals with a head for engineering and computers can easily expect a six-figure salary in this industry. From sonar imaging to keystroke identification, keeping our country and our world safer has never been easier or more profitable.
-Urban Planners:
From the Hong Kong International Airport Residential Tower to suburban "McMansion" sprawl, individuals in residential planning and development can expect a lot of work in the coming year. Urban Planners must meet the demand for real estate that’s both decadent and practical. Prefab one-level homes engineered for the aging baby boomer population are changing the face of suburban America, and boosting the demand for urban planners.
-Viral Marketers and Media Promoters:
Not to be confused with someone in advertising or public relations, a viral marketer knows how to build an audience from nothing with little more than rumor and excitement. Known for such coups as My Space’s Lonelygirl15 and the Blair Witch Project, Viral Marketers begin "contagious" campaigns that spread largely through word of mouth. They now have a foothold in American advertising due largely to the Internet.
-Talent Agents:
As Clint Eastwood would say, "These days, everyone is famous." And as fame and fortune grows for performers and athletes, a new arena opens for their managers, promoters, and general go-to guys.
Although these titles may speak for themselves, duties for those fortunate enough to get close to the stars often include things like latte retrieval and limo reservations. Yet, next to the celebrities themselves, these positions are some of the most competitive in the entertainment industry as well as in the most demand.
-Buyers and purchasing agents:
Trend forecasters predict that 2007 could be a make-or-break year for the retail industry, specifically the department store. Much of the department store’s fate lies in the hands of the buyers and purchasing agents.
These individuals are in charge of store inventory and make decisions on item color, size, quantity, and country of origin. With the recent boom of the retail industry, these jobs are often hard to come by and can be very lucrative if store profitability increases.
-Art Directors:
From Broadway to movie sets, any job that involves paint, lights, cameras, and action is in demand, especially within the 20-30 demographic. Now perceived as the ultimate career for inspired artists with an affinity for pop culture, art directors, set directors, and stage production directors clamor for the top positions that call for hands-on creative genius with a couture designer’s eye.
-News Analysts, Reporters, and Bloggers:
The Internet has created a new realm for reporters and writers, who previously only saw their names and ideas in print. Now, publications with an online division often hire three levels of correspondents: print news writers, online news writers, and bloggers.
Although most personal blogs aren’t profitable enough to stand alone as businesses, writers can use their increasing popularity as another gateway for their voices to be heard.
There is also a list of jobs that are in the biggest demand these days compiled by the folks at CNN Money. There is high demand for workers in the following fields:
-Accounting – Thanks to Enron and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, those who have a few years of corporate auditing experience working for a large public accounting firm can negotiate a sweet package for themselves when they change jobs.
That applies whether they’re leaving the accounting firm to go work for a corporation or if they’re seeking to return to the public accounting firm from an auditing job at an individual company.
College graduates with an accounting degree but not yet a CPA designation might make between $35,000 and $45,000 a year, or up to $50,000 in large cities like New York. After a couple of years they can command a substantial pay hike if they move to large company as an internal staff auditor or to a smaller company as controller. At that point, their salary can jump to anywhere from $50,000 to $75,000.
The expectation is that they will obtain their CPA designation.
If they choose to return to a public accounting firm as an audit manager after a couple of years at a corporation they can earn a salary of $70,000 to $85,000.
-Sales and Marketing
– The healthcare and biomedical fields offer some handsome earnings opportunities for those on the business side.
Business development directors, product managers and associate product managers working for medical device makers, for instance, can do quite well for themselves if they develop a successful track record managing the concept, execution and sales strategy for a medical device before jumping ship.
Typically, they have an MBA in marketing plus at least two to three years’ experience on the junior end to between five and eight years’ experience at the more senior levels. That experience ideally will be in the industry where they’re seeking work.
An associate product manager might make a base salary of $55,000 to $75,000. A product manager can make a base of $75,000 to $95,000, while a business development director may make $120,000 to $160,000. Those salaries don’t include bonuses.
The business development director seeking a vice president position could boost his base to $150,000 to $200,000 — depending on whether the new company is a risky start-up or established device maker.
-Legal -
Intellectual property attorneys specializing in patent law and the legal secretaries who have experience helping to prepare patent applications are highly desirable these days.
The most in demand are those lawyers with not only a J.D. but also an advanced degree in electrical and mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, biotechnology, pharmacology or computer science. Even those patent lawyers who just have an undergraduate degree in those fields have a leg up.
Patent lawyers working for a law firm might make $125,000 to $135,000 to start or about $90,000 if they work for a corporation that’s trying to get a patent or to protect one they already have. With a couple of years’ experience, they can expect a 10 percent jump or better when they get another job.
Legal secretaries, meanwhile, might make $65,000 at a law firm or $55,000 at a corporation. Should they choose to move to a new employer, they can command close to a 10 percent bump in pay.
-Technology -
Two tech jobs in high demand these days are .NET (dot net) developers and quality assurance analysts.
Developers who are expert users of Microsoft’s software programming language .NET can make between $75,000 and $85,000 a year in major cities. If they pursue a job at a company that seeks someone with a background in a given field (say, a firm looking for a .NET developer experienced in using software related to derivatives) they might snag a salary hike of 15 percent or more when they switch jobs.
Those who work in software quality management, meanwhile, might make $65,000 to $75,000 a year and be able to negotiate a 10 percent to 15 percent jump in pay if they switch jobs.
-Manufacturing and Engineering
– Despite all the announced job cuts in the automotive industry, quality and process engineers, as well as plant managers certified in what’s known as "Lean Manufacturing" techniques, are hot commodities.
The same applies to professionals in similar positions at other types of manufacturers.
One lean manufacturing technique is to use video cameras to capture the manufacturing process. A quality engineer will analyze the tapes to identify areas in the process that create inefficiencies or excess waste, both in terms of materials and workers’ time.
Process and manufacturing engineers might make between $65,000 and $75,000. With a certification in lean manufacturing and a few years’ experience, they can command pay hikes of between 15 percent and 20 percent if they choose to switch jobs.
A plant manager making between $90,000 and $120,000 may expect to get a 10 percent raise or more.
Many of the salaries quoted here are based on working in larger cities as opposed to smaller towns; however, it is certainly possible to garner wages such as these when you are working in an industry where there are shortages of knowledgeable individuals. There’s no question that these job fields are lucrative and need workers that can not only perform the job, but do it well.
Hot Jobs For A Career Change Part 1 Of 3
Trends Magazine has compiled a list of the hottest new jobs for the twenty-first century. Most of them are hot because of emerging technologies and the need for people who know about those new technologies. These jobs can be very lucrative to the person who is lucky enough to secure employment in these areas. Here they are:
-Experience Designer:
These individuals work in the retail industry, creating the essence and aura of a store. Experience designers go beyond the look of a place, creating a unique experience in which shoppers can immerse themselves. From cellular boutiques to the American Girl doll store on New York’s Fifth Avenue, the shops created by an experience designer are often considered works of art; mini universes unto themselves.
Experience designers are involved in every aspect of creation — from choosing accent colors on walls to slanting the windows in the right direction. The next time you go into a boutique and you feel as if you’ve just had an "experience" — you have, and someone went to a lot of trouble to make you feel at home.
-Medical Researcher:
It’s no news that what’s on the forefront of medicine is on the forefront of America’s collective mind. Researchers of cancer, Alzheimer’s, and the developers of prosthetics are the most coveted titles in the healthcare industry. With the aging baby boomer population, the need for cures and treatment plans is both paramount and profitable.
Major developments aren’t only taking place in medicine, but also in the way doctors file medical records. Individuals with the know-how and creative juice to mix tech with medicine can expect seven figure salaries in the year ahead.
-Web Designer:
What’s new about web designers – We already know they have cool jobs, working as the creative arm behind highly trafficked websites. But Trendsresearch.com reports that the profession is still in its adolescent phase, and for 2007 it’s going to be a new era of web design. Monster.com charts a 26 percent growth rate in this field for the past year, which will continue to blossom for the coming year.
With the advent of new flash technology, companies are looking for people who know how to implement this into their web presence since so many people rely on the Internet for information. Being a web designer is definitely one of the hottest jobs around and some companies will also let you work from home!
-Security Systems Engineer:
Monster.com reports that individuals in the protective services industry can expect a rise in demand and salary for 2007. Advances in Vegas-Casino like security systems and satellite maps are helping to wire the world for defense.
Individuals with a head for engineering and computers can easily expect a six-figure salary in this industry. From sonar imaging to keystroke identification, keeping our country and our world safer has never been easier or more profitable.
-Urban Planners:
From the Hong Kong International Airport Residential Tower to suburban "McMansion" sprawl, individuals in residential planning and development can expect a lot of work in the coming year. Urban Planners must meet the demand for real estate that’s both decadent and practical. Prefab one-level homes engineered for the aging baby boomer population are changing the face of suburban America, and boosting the demand for urban planners.
-Viral Marketers and Media Promoters:
Not to be confused with someone in advertising or public relations, a viral marketer knows how to build an audience from nothing with little more than rumor and excitement. Known for such coups as My Space’s Lonelygirl15 and the Blair Witch Project, Viral Marketers begin "contagious" campaigns that spread largely through word of mouth. They now have a foothold in American advertising due largely to the Internet.
-Talent Agents:
As Clint Eastwood would say, "These days, everyone is famous." And as fame and fortune grows for performers and athletes, a new arena opens for their managers, promoters, and general go-to guys.
Although these titles may speak for themselves, duties for those fortunate enough to get close to the stars often include things like latte retrieval and limo reservations. Yet, next to the celebrities themselves, these positions are some of the most competitive in the entertainment industry as well as in the most demand.
-Buyers and purchasing agents:
Trend forecasters predict that 2007 could be a make-or-break year for the retail industry, specifically the department store. Much of the department store’s fate lies in the hands of the buyers and purchasing agents.
These individuals are in charge of store inventory and make decisions on item color, size, quantity, and country of origin. With the recent boom of the retail industry, these jobs are often hard to come by and can be very lucrative if store profitability increases.
-Art Directors:
From Broadway to movie sets, any job that involves paint, lights, cameras, and action is in demand, especially within the 20-30 demographic. Now perceived as the ultimate career for inspired artists with an affinity for pop culture, art directors, set directors, and stage production directors clamor for the top positions that call for hands-on creative genius with a couture designer’s eye.
-News Analysts, Reporters, and Bloggers:
The Internet has created a new realm for reporters and writers, who previously only saw their names and ideas in print. Now, publications with an online division often hire three levels of correspondents: print news writers, online news writers, and bloggers.
Although most personal blogs aren’t profitable enough to stand alone as businesses, writers can use their increasing popularity as another gateway for their voices to be heard.
There is also a list of jobs that are in the biggest demand these days compiled by the folks at CNN Money. There is high demand for workers in the following fields:
-Accounting – Thanks to Enron and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, those who have a few years of corporate auditing experience working for a large public accounting firm can negotiate a sweet package for themselves when they change jobs.
That applies whether they’re leaving the accounting firm to go work for a corporation or if they’re seeking to return to the public accounting firm from an auditing job at an individual company.
College graduates with an accounting degree but not yet a CPA designation might make between $35,000 and $45,000 a year, or up to $50,000 in large cities like New York. After a couple of years they can command a substantial pay hike if they move to large company as an internal staff auditor or to a smaller company as controller. At that point, their salary can jump to anywhere from $50,000 to $75,000.
The expectation is that they will obtain their CPA designation.
If they choose to return to a public accounting firm as an audit manager after a couple of years at a corporation they can earn a salary of $70,000 to $85,000.
-Sales and Marketing
– The healthcare and biomedical fields offer some handsome earnings opportunities for those on the business side.
Business development directors, product managers and associate product managers working for medical device makers, for instance, can do quite well for themselves if they develop a successful track record managing the concept, execution and sales strategy for a medical device before jumping ship.
Typically, they have an MBA in marketing plus at least two to three years’ experience on the junior end to between five and eight years’ experience at the more senior levels. That experience ideally will be in the industry where they’re seeking work.
An associate product manager might make a base salary of $55,000 to $75,000. A product manager can make a base of $75,000 to $95,000, while a business development director may make $120,000 to $160,000. Those salaries don’t include bonuses.
The business development director seeking a vice president position could boost his base to $150,000 to $200,000 — depending on whether the new company is a risky start-up or established device maker.
-Legal -
Intellectual property attorneys specializing in patent law and the legal secretaries who have experience helping to prepare patent applications are highly desirable these days.
The most in demand are those lawyers with not only a J.D. but also an advanced degree in electrical and mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, biotechnology, pharmacology or computer science. Even those patent lawyers who just have an undergraduate degree in those fields have a leg up.
Patent lawyers working for a law firm might make $125,000 to $135,000 to start or about $90,000 if they work for a corporation that’s trying to get a patent or to protect one they already have. With a couple of years’ experience, they can expect a 10 percent jump or better when they get another job.
Legal secretaries, meanwhile, might make $65,000 at a law firm or $55,000 at a corporation. Should they choose to move to a new employer, they can command close to a 10 percent bump in pay.
-Technology -
Two tech jobs in high demand these days are .NET (dot net) developers and quality assurance analysts.
Developers who are expert users of Microsoft’s software programming language .NET can make between $75,000 and $85,000 a year in major cities. If they pursue a job at a company that seeks someone with a background in a given field (say, a firm looking for a .NET developer experienced in using software related to derivatives) they might snag a salary hike of 15 percent or more when they switch jobs.
Those who work in software quality management, meanwhile, might make $65,000 to $75,000 a year and be able to negotiate a 10 percent to 15 percent jump in pay if they switch jobs.
-Manufacturing and Engineering
– Despite all the announced job cuts in the automotive industry, quality and process engineers, as well as plant managers certified in what’s known as "Lean Manufacturing" techniques, are hot commodities.
The same applies to professionals in similar positions at other types of manufacturers.
One lean manufacturing technique is to use video cameras to capture the manufacturing process. A quality engineer will analyze the tapes to identify areas in the process that create inefficiencies or excess waste, both in terms of materials and workers’ time.
Process and manufacturing engineers might make between $65,000 and $75,000. With a certification in lean manufacturing and a few years’ experience, they can command pay hikes of between 15 percent and 20 percent if they choose to switch jobs.
A plant manager making between $90,000 and $120,000 may expect to get a 10 percent raise or more.
Many of the salaries quoted here are based on working in larger cities as opposed to smaller towns; however, it is certainly possible to garner wages such as these when you are working in an industry where there are shortages of knowledgeable individuals. There’s no question that these job fields are lucrative and need workers that can not only perform the job, but do it well.
Discernment of vocation
Interesting viewpoint and tips from a liberal Christian perspective:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/workplace/articles/contemplatingcareerchange.html
Ten Practical Tips When Considering a Career Change
There are hundreds of great career tips, any one of which could be life changing, so picking just ten is daunting. With that said, here are my top ten …
1. Take career assessments. Some of them are simple and free (www.careerkey.org). Others are multi-faceted, and require some financial investment (CareerDirect® Guidance System for $100 from www.crown.org). You can also find good career assessments through local counselors and colleges, many of which use well used standards such as the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory, Myers-Briggs for personality profiling, and Self-Directed Search.
2. Elect a board of advisors. Ask input from your family, friends and fellow workers as well as trusted career advisors and experts. Ask those who know you well how they would describe your abilities, interests, personality and values, as well as your "blind spots." What do they see as work God has prepared for you? For more info, go to www.CareerTIP.net and enter key word "advisor."
3. Inventory all your life experiences. Include school and education, work experiences, personal interests and hobbies, and community and church activities. Circle the things you did best and liked most, especially activities that were meaningful to you. Contrast and compare what you have discovered in tips one through three. Are there recurring themes, interests, abilities and/or values? For more info, go to www.CareerTIP.net and enter keyword "sweet spot."
4. Explore the wide world of work fast and free. The internet is great for learning about careers of all kinds. Some helpful sites are America's CareerInfoNet at www.acinet.org, Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov/oco, Career Guide to Industries at www.bls.gov/oco/cg, and Occupational Information Network at http://online.onetcenter.org/.
5. "Netweave" through personal referrals. Whether exploring career direction or looking for a particular job, how much better is it to have a personal referral? Would you believe 42 times? That's 4,200% better! Why? You are good by association with the person who referred you. So, start making connections by helping others. For more information, checkout www.netweaving.com.
6. Educate your gifts. Michael Jordan could jump high, but it didn't mean much until he learned how to play basketball. Talent alone is not enough; knowledge and skill are required. Stay current on fast-changing technologies to remain employable and live a life of continuous learning. To find opportunities for more education, degrees, certifications and classes, checkout www.petersons.com and the American Association of Community Colleges at www.aacc.nche.edu/.
7. Take courses on career planning and job search techniques. Find a CareerOneStop Center near you by typing your zip code into www.servicelocator.org. For a Christ-centered approach, consider a Crossroads Career® Explorer Course. For more info, go to www.crossroadscareer.org.
8. Lose financial weight. If you have debt and cost of living which makes it hard to afford a career change, then it's time to deal with the money issue. Wonderful resources are available to help you decrease your dependence on dollars and increase your freedom to change careers. Check out Crown Financial Ministries at www.crown.org.
9. Plan on working after retirement. Sound like an oxymoron? Forty-eight percent of people who have retired work at least part time. Eighty percent of the soon-to-be-retiring baby-boomers plan on working. For more info, go to www.CareerTIP.net and enter keyword "retire."
10. Generate a positive attitude. Motivational speaker Zig Zigler writes that 85% of the reason people get jobs and get ahead in those jobs is a positive attitude. Exercise forgiveness to free you from hurts from the past, and practice love of others to overcome fear of the future.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/workplace/articles/contemplatingcareerchange.html
Ten Practical Tips When Considering a Career Change
There are hundreds of great career tips, any one of which could be life changing, so picking just ten is daunting. With that said, here are my top ten …
1. Take career assessments. Some of them are simple and free (www.careerkey.org). Others are multi-faceted, and require some financial investment (CareerDirect® Guidance System for $100 from www.crown.org). You can also find good career assessments through local counselors and colleges, many of which use well used standards such as the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory, Myers-Briggs for personality profiling, and Self-Directed Search.
2. Elect a board of advisors. Ask input from your family, friends and fellow workers as well as trusted career advisors and experts. Ask those who know you well how they would describe your abilities, interests, personality and values, as well as your "blind spots." What do they see as work God has prepared for you? For more info, go to www.CareerTIP.net and enter key word "advisor."
3. Inventory all your life experiences. Include school and education, work experiences, personal interests and hobbies, and community and church activities. Circle the things you did best and liked most, especially activities that were meaningful to you. Contrast and compare what you have discovered in tips one through three. Are there recurring themes, interests, abilities and/or values? For more info, go to www.CareerTIP.net and enter keyword "sweet spot."
4. Explore the wide world of work fast and free. The internet is great for learning about careers of all kinds. Some helpful sites are America's CareerInfoNet at www.acinet.org, Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov/oco, Career Guide to Industries at www.bls.gov/oco/cg, and Occupational Information Network at http://online.onetcenter.org/.
5. "Netweave" through personal referrals. Whether exploring career direction or looking for a particular job, how much better is it to have a personal referral? Would you believe 42 times? That's 4,200% better! Why? You are good by association with the person who referred you. So, start making connections by helping others. For more information, checkout www.netweaving.com.
6. Educate your gifts. Michael Jordan could jump high, but it didn't mean much until he learned how to play basketball. Talent alone is not enough; knowledge and skill are required. Stay current on fast-changing technologies to remain employable and live a life of continuous learning. To find opportunities for more education, degrees, certifications and classes, checkout www.petersons.com and the American Association of Community Colleges at www.aacc.nche.edu/.
7. Take courses on career planning and job search techniques. Find a CareerOneStop Center near you by typing your zip code into www.servicelocator.org. For a Christ-centered approach, consider a Crossroads Career® Explorer Course. For more info, go to www.crossroadscareer.org.
8. Lose financial weight. If you have debt and cost of living which makes it hard to afford a career change, then it's time to deal with the money issue. Wonderful resources are available to help you decrease your dependence on dollars and increase your freedom to change careers. Check out Crown Financial Ministries at www.crown.org.
9. Plan on working after retirement. Sound like an oxymoron? Forty-eight percent of people who have retired work at least part time. Eighty percent of the soon-to-be-retiring baby-boomers plan on working. For more info, go to www.CareerTIP.net and enter keyword "retire."
10. Generate a positive attitude. Motivational speaker Zig Zigler writes that 85% of the reason people get jobs and get ahead in those jobs is a positive attitude. Exercise forgiveness to free you from hurts from the past, and practice love of others to overcome fear of the future.
Practical and not-so-practical counsel from Richard Bolles
Richard Bolles and the What Color Is Your Parachute books have been around for a while: http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/.
They sell for around 18-19 bucks a copy and the market must perceive value in them despite their being a pricey, large-ish volume which doesn't fit well in a briefcase or vest pocket. Whether because of the value of their counsel or because they are entertaining or both, they continue to sell well.
I find the Parachute books hard to read. Maybe that's partly because I think a basic premise of them is seriously, annoyingly wrong. The Parachute books encourage one to navel-gaze until one finds one's perfect vocation. I think for many people, as a practical matter, the perfect vocation isn't discernible within the finite bounds of a human lifetime - it ain't there, they'll never find it, and they'll never get off their backside and engage with life "until they find themselves." I know far too many people who are inclined that way, and Parachute unfortunately validates that inclination.
Perfection is the enemy of the good enough. A career strategy has to be part of a life strategy. For such people, the key can be to find a job you don't hate too much which enables you to arrange your life the way you want it.
That all said, Bolles makes a very useful observation about A Philosophy Of Work, p. 56 of the 2006 edition, viz:
1. The typical job these days is best viewed as a temp job. ...
2. The typical job these days is best viewed as a seminar.. ...
3. The typical job these days is best viewed as an adventure. ...
4. The typical job these days is best viewed as one where the satisfaction lies in the work itself. ... [goes off the track a bit - gets a little masochistic]
5. You need to approach any job with the philosophy that it can be transformed. ... [Maybe. But also check out what Peter Drucker says about "widowmaker" jobs.]
They sell for around 18-19 bucks a copy and the market must perceive value in them despite their being a pricey, large-ish volume which doesn't fit well in a briefcase or vest pocket. Whether because of the value of their counsel or because they are entertaining or both, they continue to sell well.
I find the Parachute books hard to read. Maybe that's partly because I think a basic premise of them is seriously, annoyingly wrong. The Parachute books encourage one to navel-gaze until one finds one's perfect vocation. I think for many people, as a practical matter, the perfect vocation isn't discernible within the finite bounds of a human lifetime - it ain't there, they'll never find it, and they'll never get off their backside and engage with life "until they find themselves." I know far too many people who are inclined that way, and Parachute unfortunately validates that inclination.
Perfection is the enemy of the good enough. A career strategy has to be part of a life strategy. For such people, the key can be to find a job you don't hate too much which enables you to arrange your life the way you want it.
That all said, Bolles makes a very useful observation about A Philosophy Of Work, p. 56 of the 2006 edition, viz:
1. The typical job these days is best viewed as a temp job. ...
2. The typical job these days is best viewed as a seminar.. ...
3. The typical job these days is best viewed as an adventure. ...
4. The typical job these days is best viewed as one where the satisfaction lies in the work itself. ... [goes off the track a bit - gets a little masochistic]
5. You need to approach any job with the philosophy that it can be transformed. ... [Maybe. But also check out what Peter Drucker says about "widowmaker" jobs.]
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Patent agent - more on career switch pathway
The attractive aspect of this, if you have a science or engineering degree - or maybe even if you don't (see e.g. http://www.oppenheimercommunications.com/Patents/PatentAgentCareers.shtml for a technical writer's story)?
It's one 100-question multiple guess exam and bang, you have a new credential which opens new doors - not many one-shot career-changer projects like that.
Maybe. Wonder why more people aren't doing this?
One attractive aspect would be that some credentials actually REDUCE your practical options. (Law degrees are infamous for this if you get interested in a job as a non-attorney.) But I don't think a patent agent license would do that.
One review course, the PLI course, is pretty expensive, about $2800. 10% discount if you're IEEE, taking it down to about $2500.
According to Oppenheimer, he did it without such a course. But you'd still have to prepare.
It's one 100-question multiple guess exam and bang, you have a new credential which opens new doors - not many one-shot career-changer projects like that.
Maybe. Wonder why more people aren't doing this?
One attractive aspect would be that some credentials actually REDUCE your practical options. (Law degrees are infamous for this if you get interested in a job as a non-attorney.) But I don't think a patent agent license would do that.
One review course, the PLI course, is pretty expensive, about $2800. 10% discount if you're IEEE, taking it down to about $2500.
According to Oppenheimer, he did it without such a course. But you'd still have to prepare.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Supply chain - a career switch path?
"Supply chain management" is a term you hear a lot now with globalized and outsourced production. It's a new buzzword.
This seems to split the interdisciplinary seam between engineering and business. It might show up in systems engineering, engineering management, or logistics.
Supply chain management has become a big issue with the H1N1 flu vaccine. It's hard to get it right now! Producing H1N1 vaccine has run into problems, but distributing it may be the supply chain weak link.
Like a lot of vaccines, it needs to be carefully refrigerated from production to injection, in a "cold chain" with a managed chain of custody showing that it's been kept in the correct temperature range. It can't get too warm or too cold - there are reports of thousands of hard-to-produce doses being lost.
See http://www.wptv.com/mostpopular/story/Vaccine-ruined/jXS5Vw6cmk6CG6quQ9opBw.cspx
(What kind of equipment and skills would this take? There are medical-grade refrigerators and freezers. Do you also need medical-grade truck drivers and medical-grade custodians and building guards?)
Here's one school that suggests supply chain management as a career switch path:
http://www.umsl.edu/divisions/business/mbaonline/phd/overview.htm
This seems to split the interdisciplinary seam between engineering and business. It might show up in systems engineering, engineering management, or logistics.
Supply chain management has become a big issue with the H1N1 flu vaccine. It's hard to get it right now! Producing H1N1 vaccine has run into problems, but distributing it may be the supply chain weak link.
Like a lot of vaccines, it needs to be carefully refrigerated from production to injection, in a "cold chain" with a managed chain of custody showing that it's been kept in the correct temperature range. It can't get too warm or too cold - there are reports of thousands of hard-to-produce doses being lost.
See http://www.wptv.com/mostpopular/story/Vaccine-ruined/jXS5Vw6cmk6CG6quQ9opBw.cspx
(What kind of equipment and skills would this take? There are medical-grade refrigerators and freezers. Do you also need medical-grade truck drivers and medical-grade custodians and building guards?)
Here's one school that suggests supply chain management as a career switch path:
http://www.umsl.edu/divisions/business/mbaonline/phd/overview.htm
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Law as a career switch?
I've discussed this before on this blog - I'm not sure how well law works as the destination of a career switch. The traditional path of going to law school is a tough, expensive educational campaign, even tougher if you're trying to do it part-time while full-time employed.
The campaign to become a lawyer doesn't end with finishing law school and passing the bar exam somewhere. The people who become superstar lawyers seem to have started young in a big law firm - not old and by themselves. I'm told that environment is pretty cutthroat - most of them don't last at those firms. But that seems to be the beginning of how they "make their bones" and establish credibility in the field.
Does law ever work as part of an interdisciplinary mix of credentials or as an off-label credential (e.g. get the law degree but use it as an entree to do something else, as can happen with e.g. advanced science, engineering or business credentials)?
I'm hard put to say. While cases can be found where people seem to have done this (e.g. policy analyst who has a law degree), those jobs can usually also be accessed by someone without a law degree. I don't think it would make sense to get a law degree and take the bar exam to get one of those kinds of jobs - there might be other, easier ways of accessing them.
An exception to all of the above, viewing law purely as a credential investment, might be patent law. One way to approach that, also discussed previously, is for a person with the necessary science or engineering background to start out by becoming a patent agent, which doesn't require a law degree.
Law seems to be a field where correct credentials are taken very seriously.
That all said: here is an amusing website which seems to have identified some loopholes for online paths to law degrees: ttp://www.lawschoolbible.com/dc_bar_option.htm.
There are also several states which still allow "apprenticeship" or "reading law" in law offices as a non-law-school pathway to becoming a lawyer: see
http://www.lawyersatisfactionblog.com/2009/04/becoming-a-lawyer-without-need.html
or
http://www.lawschool.com/noneed.htm
I think it's great that these pathways exist, but they sound impossible for already-employed people. And most shortcut websites end up pointing you back to Concord Law School.
So if you want to get a law degree as a way of opening a door to something else, generally there seem to be more efficient ways to do it.
But law is not impossible as a career switch.
The campaign to become a lawyer doesn't end with finishing law school and passing the bar exam somewhere. The people who become superstar lawyers seem to have started young in a big law firm - not old and by themselves. I'm told that environment is pretty cutthroat - most of them don't last at those firms. But that seems to be the beginning of how they "make their bones" and establish credibility in the field.
Does law ever work as part of an interdisciplinary mix of credentials or as an off-label credential (e.g. get the law degree but use it as an entree to do something else, as can happen with e.g. advanced science, engineering or business credentials)?
I'm hard put to say. While cases can be found where people seem to have done this (e.g. policy analyst who has a law degree), those jobs can usually also be accessed by someone without a law degree. I don't think it would make sense to get a law degree and take the bar exam to get one of those kinds of jobs - there might be other, easier ways of accessing them.
An exception to all of the above, viewing law purely as a credential investment, might be patent law. One way to approach that, also discussed previously, is for a person with the necessary science or engineering background to start out by becoming a patent agent, which doesn't require a law degree.
Law seems to be a field where correct credentials are taken very seriously.
That all said: here is an amusing website which seems to have identified some loopholes for online paths to law degrees: ttp://www.lawschoolbible.com/dc_bar_option.htm.
There are also several states which still allow "apprenticeship" or "reading law" in law offices as a non-law-school pathway to becoming a lawyer: see
http://www.lawyersatisfactionblog.com/2009/04/becoming-a-lawyer-without-need.html
or
http://www.lawschool.com/noneed.htm
I think it's great that these pathways exist, but they sound impossible for already-employed people. And most shortcut websites end up pointing you back to Concord Law School.
So if you want to get a law degree as a way of opening a door to something else, generally there seem to be more efficient ways to do it.
But law is not impossible as a career switch.
Brain Rules - interesting book...
...that I haven't actually read yet, but hope to soon.
See http://www.brainrules.net/
or
the NPR show Parents' Journal, where I first heard of it:
http://www.parentsjournal.com/radioshow
Here's a quick summary from the Brain Rules website:
The brain is an amazing thing. Most of us have no idea what’s really going on inside our heads. Yet brain scientists have uncovered details every business leader, parent, and teacher should know.
How do we learn? What exactly do sleep and stress do to our brains? Why is multi-tasking a myth? Why is it so easy to forget—and so important to repeat new knowledge?
See http://www.brainrules.net/
or
the NPR show Parents' Journal, where I first heard of it:
http://www.parentsjournal.com/radioshow
Here's a quick summary from the Brain Rules website:
The brain is an amazing thing. Most of us have no idea what’s really going on inside our heads. Yet brain scientists have uncovered details every business leader, parent, and teacher should know.
How do we learn? What exactly do sleep and stress do to our brains? Why is multi-tasking a myth? Why is it so easy to forget—and so important to repeat new knowledge?
Thursday, October 15, 2009
More on Life Coaching - podcast
Interesting interview of one David Wood on Michael Senoff's Hard to Find Seminars website:
http://find.hardtofindseminars.com/category/experts/david-wood/.
Actually, the interview was pretty hard to find on that website, too. I found it through iTunes searching against "coach".
The audio was also pretty marginal. If Michael Senoff wants attract people to those podcasts, he should invest a bit in improving that.
David Wood also has a visually appealing website at http://www.life-coaching-resource.com/.
With an unregulated, not heavily-credentialed, subjectively evaluated field, there's a lot of potential for fraud in life coaching, so I don't know if this guy was on the level or not. But he gave at least one interesting response to a question: What is the difference between psychotherapy and life coaching? Answer: Psychotherapy is like getting someone with broken legs to where they can walk. Life coaching is like getting a person who can walk to where they can run a four-minute mile.
So David Wood thinks the two are related. An obvious corollary, which they never pursued, would be that a person with some background in psychotherapy should be off to a good start if they wanted to consider life coaching. They did claim that "psychotherapists" generally need a license, whereas "life coaches" generally don't in most or all US states.
In fact, as mentioned in earlier posts, "psychotherapists" generally don't need a license either.
David Wood did mention that there were now university programs in life coaching. That's a new one - it will have to be the subject of a later post.
Jargon alert: something that seemed to come up a lot on the Senoff website was "HMA" consulting. HMA stands for Hidden Marketing Asset. Hadn't heard that one before today.
http://find.hardtofindseminars.com/category/experts/david-wood/.
Actually, the interview was pretty hard to find on that website, too. I found it through iTunes searching against "coach".
The audio was also pretty marginal. If Michael Senoff wants attract people to those podcasts, he should invest a bit in improving that.
David Wood also has a visually appealing website at http://www.life-coaching-resource.com/.
With an unregulated, not heavily-credentialed, subjectively evaluated field, there's a lot of potential for fraud in life coaching, so I don't know if this guy was on the level or not. But he gave at least one interesting response to a question: What is the difference between psychotherapy and life coaching? Answer: Psychotherapy is like getting someone with broken legs to where they can walk. Life coaching is like getting a person who can walk to where they can run a four-minute mile.
So David Wood thinks the two are related. An obvious corollary, which they never pursued, would be that a person with some background in psychotherapy should be off to a good start if they wanted to consider life coaching. They did claim that "psychotherapists" generally need a license, whereas "life coaches" generally don't in most or all US states.
In fact, as mentioned in earlier posts, "psychotherapists" generally don't need a license either.
David Wood did mention that there were now university programs in life coaching. That's a new one - it will have to be the subject of a later post.
Jargon alert: something that seemed to come up a lot on the Senoff website was "HMA" consulting. HMA stands for Hidden Marketing Asset. Hadn't heard that one before today.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Health Care Career Switch - Physician's Assistant
Physician's assistant is a possible pathway to a career switch if you have a science undergraduate degree. Kettering is one example of a school offering a career switch path:
http://www.kcma.edu/academics/pa/index.html
"Whether you’re a high school student exploring your health care career options, or you’re a college graduate seeking a career change, Kettering College’s PA program can work for you. Through Kettering College’s bachelor’s degree in human biology, non-degree holders can take the necessary prerequisite courses both to earn an undergraduate degree and to advance seamlessly into KCMA’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies. Students already possessing a bachelor’s degree in any basic science or any health care-related field can jump right in to the master’s program, provided they have the appropriate prerequisites."
This link gives a real-life case study:
http://money.cnn.com/2009/06/04/pf/career_switch.moneymag/index.htm
And for those of you who, like I was, were wondering just what the final difference between a PA and a nurse practitioner is, these links may or may not help you. From the viewpoint of someone who has encountered them both as a patient, it doesn't seem like much, but they reach similar roles through different educational pathways with different cultures - a NP starts out with a BSN in nursing and gets more training; a PA typically goes straight to PA school for a bachelor's or master's degree.
It's interesting that health care has such stovepiped, parallel, mutually hostile pedagogical pathways for being licensed to work on patients.
I didn't even try to get at some of the other credentialed terms like paramedic, EMT, etc. - those are probably different yet again.
https://career.berkeley.edu/Article/070209a-jv.stm
http://medinfo.ufl.edu/pa/program/faq.htm
http://www.ultimatenurse.com/forum/f14/physician-assistant-nurse-practitioner-1190/ [some gut reactions from the field, not written by college deans selling their programs]
http://www.wapa.org/pdfs/np-pa_chart.pdf
Pros and cons questions:
-Would this be a $100000 credential for a $50000 job? (It seems like an MD or OD degree is a $1m credential for a $10m job.) Of course, money isn't everything. I don't think PA studies can be a part-time pursuit and it sounds like real work. Full-time school can be very expensive for midcareer people, both with school costs and with foregone income.
-After all this, you're forever professionally defined as an "assistant" to someone. Of course, we all have bosses, superiors, etc. But it seems like having it in the credential's name would rankle. No way a physician will ever consider you as an equal on any level - professional or social - I would think. Doctors and nurses have had generations to work out their respective roles and mixture of deference and dominance, like officers and enlisted persons in the Army - and even then, there's friction. This is newer and the respective roles are even less clear.
-Also, how will near-peers like the nurses - and NP's - regard you?
-Helping heal people - wonderful!
-Regular hours - if you get them.
-Not the same legal liability as a physician (though anyone anywhere can be sued - I would carry professional liability insurance if I were in this field).
-Also not the same money as a physician.
http://www.kcma.edu/academics/pa/index.html
"Whether you’re a high school student exploring your health care career options, or you’re a college graduate seeking a career change, Kettering College’s PA program can work for you. Through Kettering College’s bachelor’s degree in human biology, non-degree holders can take the necessary prerequisite courses both to earn an undergraduate degree and to advance seamlessly into KCMA’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies. Students already possessing a bachelor’s degree in any basic science or any health care-related field can jump right in to the master’s program, provided they have the appropriate prerequisites."
This link gives a real-life case study:
http://money.cnn.com/2009/06/04/pf/career_switch.moneymag/index.htm
And for those of you who, like I was, were wondering just what the final difference between a PA and a nurse practitioner is, these links may or may not help you. From the viewpoint of someone who has encountered them both as a patient, it doesn't seem like much, but they reach similar roles through different educational pathways with different cultures - a NP starts out with a BSN in nursing and gets more training; a PA typically goes straight to PA school for a bachelor's or master's degree.
It's interesting that health care has such stovepiped, parallel, mutually hostile pedagogical pathways for being licensed to work on patients.
I didn't even try to get at some of the other credentialed terms like paramedic, EMT, etc. - those are probably different yet again.
https://career.berkeley.edu/Article/070209a-jv.stm
http://medinfo.ufl.edu/pa/program/faq.htm
http://www.ultimatenurse.com/forum/f14/physician-assistant-nurse-practitioner-1190/ [some gut reactions from the field, not written by college deans selling their programs]
http://www.wapa.org/pdfs/np-pa_chart.pdf
Pros and cons questions:
-Would this be a $100000 credential for a $50000 job? (It seems like an MD or OD degree is a $1m credential for a $10m job.) Of course, money isn't everything. I don't think PA studies can be a part-time pursuit and it sounds like real work. Full-time school can be very expensive for midcareer people, both with school costs and with foregone income.
-After all this, you're forever professionally defined as an "assistant" to someone. Of course, we all have bosses, superiors, etc. But it seems like having it in the credential's name would rankle. No way a physician will ever consider you as an equal on any level - professional or social - I would think. Doctors and nurses have had generations to work out their respective roles and mixture of deference and dominance, like officers and enlisted persons in the Army - and even then, there's friction. This is newer and the respective roles are even less clear.
-Also, how will near-peers like the nurses - and NP's - regard you?
-Helping heal people - wonderful!
-Regular hours - if you get them.
-Not the same legal liability as a physician (though anyone anywhere can be sued - I would carry professional liability insurance if I were in this field).
-Also not the same money as a physician.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Becoming a Patent Agent
This is a possible career switch path for someone with the right degree. To become a patent attorney, you have to become an attorney, meaning law school and the bar exam. To become a patent agent, you don't. You do have to take an exam.
A little info is at http://www.theinstitute.ieee.org/portal/site/tionline/menuitem.130a3558587d56e8fb2275875bac26c8/index.jsp?&pName=institute_level1_article&TheCat=1004&article=tionline/legacy/inst2008/feb08/educationEPP.xml&;jsessionid=h5dpKyghQkMGVL59ywkVNTy5vLzrGpRfX2CD7Lc7M1gpn8RkjnLG!-143611134!2121372814:
Consider Becoming a Patent Agent
Discount on U.S. Patent Bar Exam Course
BY JASON LADAY
While most engineers may be focused on obtaining patents through their own work, many overlook the possibility of becoming U.S. patent agents. Engineers and other scientific professionals are uniquely qualified to become patent agents because of their technical background. And their expertise is sought after by both law firms and corporations.
The main difference between patent agents and patent attorneys is that with their law degrees attorneys can practice law outside the patent office. However, both agents and attorneys must sit and pass the Patent Registration Exam, which tests one’s knowledge of patent law as well as U.S. Patent and Trademark Office policies. Those who become full-time patent agents can go to work at patent law firms.
For those interested in becoming an agent, the IEEE has collaborated with the Practicing Law Institute (PLI) to offer a 10 percent discount on its patent bar review course. This course helps prospective patent agents prepare for the Patent Registration Exam, better known as the patent bar exam. PLI is a nonprofit organization that provides continuing education courses for lawyers but has recently expanding its reach to others.
“Our patent bar review course is the first in existence to our knowledge,” says the institute’s training services director, Mark Dighton. “Until recently we have focused on lawyers and law students but want to reach out to engineers who are interested in becoming patent agents.”
One of the main requirements to sit for the patent bar exam is an undergraduate degree in engineering or other hard science, including chemistry, biology, physics, or computer science. According to PLI, the average lawyer or law student has no significant advantage over an engineer with no legal experience in taking the exam because the test is more about knowing procedural details than actual patent law.
“Engineers often decide on becoming patent agents because it broadens their career opportunities,” Dighton says. ”It’s diverse and fascinating work and keeps you on the cutting edge of the engineering profession.” Patent agents are sought after by law firms and corporations.
COURSE DETAILS The review course can be taken on your own at home or in a classroom with a teacher. All students receive a set of written materials, including practice books and an audio CD of all lectures. Those taking the home study route will also receive DVDs replicating the live lectures and question reviews.
The live courses are a series of five-day lectures and exercises that last 10 hours each day. Courses are scheduled throughout the year in Boston; Chicago; Costa Mesa, Calif.; Houston; New York; San Francisco; and the Washington, D.C. area.
According to PLI, those planning to take the exam should set aside at least 150 to 200 hours of study, in chunks of three to four hours at a time spread over a month or two. Ideally, one would take the course sometime in the middle of this period, continuing to review the material even after the course has ended. Course materials must be returned after the exam.
For more information on PLI, the Patent Bar Review Course, and the Patent Bar Exam, visit http://www.pli.edu/barreview/patentbar/engineer_corner.asp
Also see http://inventors.about.com/od/patentattorneys/ht/patent_agent.htm
and
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/attorney.htm.
I don't know any patent agents, don't know what they do day-to-day, who hires them, how business comes to them, etc. It would be interesting to get some stories about how this has worked out for people as a career shift.
A little info is at http://www.theinstitute.ieee.org/portal/site/tionline/menuitem.130a3558587d56e8fb2275875bac26c8/index.jsp?&pName=institute_level1_article&TheCat=1004&article=tionline/legacy/inst2008/feb08/educationEPP.xml&;jsessionid=h5dpKyghQkMGVL59ywkVNTy5vLzrGpRfX2CD7Lc7M1gpn8RkjnLG!-143611134!2121372814:
Consider Becoming a Patent Agent
Discount on U.S. Patent Bar Exam Course
BY JASON LADAY
While most engineers may be focused on obtaining patents through their own work, many overlook the possibility of becoming U.S. patent agents. Engineers and other scientific professionals are uniquely qualified to become patent agents because of their technical background. And their expertise is sought after by both law firms and corporations.
The main difference between patent agents and patent attorneys is that with their law degrees attorneys can practice law outside the patent office. However, both agents and attorneys must sit and pass the Patent Registration Exam, which tests one’s knowledge of patent law as well as U.S. Patent and Trademark Office policies. Those who become full-time patent agents can go to work at patent law firms.
For those interested in becoming an agent, the IEEE has collaborated with the Practicing Law Institute (PLI) to offer a 10 percent discount on its patent bar review course. This course helps prospective patent agents prepare for the Patent Registration Exam, better known as the patent bar exam. PLI is a nonprofit organization that provides continuing education courses for lawyers but has recently expanding its reach to others.
“Our patent bar review course is the first in existence to our knowledge,” says the institute’s training services director, Mark Dighton. “Until recently we have focused on lawyers and law students but want to reach out to engineers who are interested in becoming patent agents.”
One of the main requirements to sit for the patent bar exam is an undergraduate degree in engineering or other hard science, including chemistry, biology, physics, or computer science. According to PLI, the average lawyer or law student has no significant advantage over an engineer with no legal experience in taking the exam because the test is more about knowing procedural details than actual patent law.
“Engineers often decide on becoming patent agents because it broadens their career opportunities,” Dighton says. ”It’s diverse and fascinating work and keeps you on the cutting edge of the engineering profession.” Patent agents are sought after by law firms and corporations.
COURSE DETAILS The review course can be taken on your own at home or in a classroom with a teacher. All students receive a set of written materials, including practice books and an audio CD of all lectures. Those taking the home study route will also receive DVDs replicating the live lectures and question reviews.
The live courses are a series of five-day lectures and exercises that last 10 hours each day. Courses are scheduled throughout the year in Boston; Chicago; Costa Mesa, Calif.; Houston; New York; San Francisco; and the Washington, D.C. area.
According to PLI, those planning to take the exam should set aside at least 150 to 200 hours of study, in chunks of three to four hours at a time spread over a month or two. Ideally, one would take the course sometime in the middle of this period, continuing to review the material even after the course has ended. Course materials must be returned after the exam.
For more information on PLI, the Patent Bar Review Course, and the Patent Bar Exam, visit http://www.pli.edu/barreview/patentbar/engineer_corner.asp
Also see http://inventors.about.com/od/patentattorneys/ht/patent_agent.htm
and
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/attorney.htm.
I don't know any patent agents, don't know what they do day-to-day, who hires them, how business comes to them, etc. It would be interesting to get some stories about how this has worked out for people as a career shift.
Expediter - only in New York
Only in New York, but talk about a career shift.
Unfortunately, this is only the abstract - you have to subscribe to TNY to get the full article.
http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1988/02/29/1988_02_29_022_TNY_CARDS_000348892?printable=true
Archive
THE TALK OF THE TOWN
EXPEDITER
by Mark Singer
FEBRUARY 29, 1988
Mark Singer, The Talk of the Town, “Expediter,” The New Yorker, February 29, 1988, p. 22
Read the full text of this article in the digital edition. (Subscription required.)
ABSTRACT: Talk story about Nat Silberman, 49, an expediter at the Dept. of Buildings on lower Hudson Street. It is a fact of life that if you need something done there you get an expediter to do it. The other morning the writer saw Nat waiting to talk to an inspector named Bob Freligh. He told the writer about some of his interesting situations as for example getting a certificate of occupancy for a hospital building which is not yet finished. The garage underneath is finished & the doctors want to park their cars there. Nat was ordained a rabbi 27 years ago and he's also a lapsed architect. Tells about some of the other situations he is dealing with & how he operates.
Unfortunately, this is only the abstract - you have to subscribe to TNY to get the full article.
http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1988/02/29/1988_02_29_022_TNY_CARDS_000348892?printable=true
Archive
THE TALK OF THE TOWN
EXPEDITER
by Mark Singer
FEBRUARY 29, 1988
Mark Singer, The Talk of the Town, “Expediter,” The New Yorker, February 29, 1988, p. 22
Read the full text of this article in the digital edition. (Subscription required.)
ABSTRACT: Talk story about Nat Silberman, 49, an expediter at the Dept. of Buildings on lower Hudson Street. It is a fact of life that if you need something done there you get an expediter to do it. The other morning the writer saw Nat waiting to talk to an inspector named Bob Freligh. He told the writer about some of his interesting situations as for example getting a certificate of occupancy for a hospital building which is not yet finished. The garage underneath is finished & the doctors want to park their cars there. Nat was ordained a rabbi 27 years ago and he's also a lapsed architect. Tells about some of the other situations he is dealing with & how he operates.
Nursing
From http://www.uab.edu/uabmagazine/2009/june/nursing:
Stories from UAB’s Accelerated Master’s in Nursing Pathway
One student was headed toward a career in hospital administration until she heard the call of nursing. Another spent several years in UAB’s research labs but decided she wanted a health-care career with more one-on-one contact. Yet another left a successful career in athletic training, working with some of the Southeast’s most prestigious college-football programs, to forge a new path in nursing.
All of these students joined the first class of the UAB School of Nursing’s Accelerated Master’s in Nursing Pathway for Second Degree Students. The program offers college graduates with bachelor’s degrees—even degrees unrelated to health care—a “fast track” to a master’s degree in nursing and an opportunity to sit for the nursing board exams.
Stories from UAB’s Accelerated Master’s in Nursing Pathway
One student was headed toward a career in hospital administration until she heard the call of nursing. Another spent several years in UAB’s research labs but decided she wanted a health-care career with more one-on-one contact. Yet another left a successful career in athletic training, working with some of the Southeast’s most prestigious college-football programs, to forge a new path in nursing.
All of these students joined the first class of the UAB School of Nursing’s Accelerated Master’s in Nursing Pathway for Second Degree Students. The program offers college graduates with bachelor’s degrees—even degrees unrelated to health care—a “fast track” to a master’s degree in nursing and an opportunity to sit for the nursing board exams.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Genealogy As A Career Switch Option
One career switch option is genealogy. This is an important subject for many reasons, not just personal, although that's a big one too as people become more curious about family history. Families may retain genealogists just because they're interested or to discover potential heirs to a divided estate.
One US-based website with a lot of information: http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/becoming_a_professional_genealogist
That website says that there is such a thing as a "certified genealogist", so there seems to be some credentialing associated with it. There are also academic certificates and degrees in genealogy now.
This UK-based website highlights genealogy as a career-switch path.
Also note this interesting US Government report from as recently as last year, regarding a fee-for-service genealogical program that the Department of Homeland Security was setting up:
"This rule affects professional genealogists and other members of
the public requesting historical records from USCIS. The main source of
genealogy requests comes from individuals doing personal research,
rather than from small entities, such as professional genealogists.
``The Washington Post'' reported that seventy-three percent of
Americans have an interest in their family history, according to a 2005
study conducted by Market Strategies, Inc., a syndicated research firm
based in Livonia, Michigan, and MyFamily.com, an online network of
genealogical tools based in Provo, Utah. ``The Wall Street Journal''
described genealogy as a $200 million per year industry ranging from
individual researchers to multi-million dollar companies.
In addition, the growth of the Internet has spurred interest in
genealogy and a rapidly growing number of hobbyists pursuing genealogy.
According to the ``Occupational Outlook Quarterly'' (Bureau of Labor
Statistics, Fall 2000), a 1997 survey of certified genealogists found
that 57 percent work part-time, 34 percent work full-time, and 9
percent are hobbyists. In 2001, there were over 300 certified
genealogists, and currently, the Association of Professional
Genealogists has 1,600 members worldwide http://www.apgen.org. The
National Genealogical Society notes:
Some professional genealogists are employed as librarians,
archivists, editors or research assistants to established
professionals; others work for genealogical firms. Most, however,
choose self-employment-learning business principles to ensure the
success of their genealogical practice. As with other
entrepreneurial fields, most make the move gradually from their
original field of employment, building a practice--be it a client
base, writing outlets, or some other venue--before moving full-time
into genealogy. Some make this career switch in mid-life. Others
choose genealogy as a second career upon retirement from their first
one. Because genealogical degree programs are still relatively rare,
only a few enjoy the opportunity to make genealogy their first
career. No accurate count exists for the number of individuals
employed as genealogists, full-time and part-time (http://
www.ngsgenealogy.org/articles/profession.cfm)."
One US-based website with a lot of information: http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/becoming_a_professional_genealogist
That website says that there is such a thing as a "certified genealogist", so there seems to be some credentialing associated with it. There are also academic certificates and degrees in genealogy now.
This UK-based website highlights genealogy as a career-switch path.
Also note this interesting US Government report from as recently as last year, regarding a fee-for-service genealogical program that the Department of Homeland Security was setting up:
"This rule affects professional genealogists and other members of
the public requesting historical records from USCIS. The main source of
genealogy requests comes from individuals doing personal research,
rather than from small entities, such as professional genealogists.
``The Washington Post'' reported that seventy-three percent of
Americans have an interest in their family history, according to a 2005
study conducted by Market Strategies, Inc., a syndicated research firm
based in Livonia, Michigan, and MyFamily.com, an online network of
genealogical tools based in Provo, Utah. ``The Wall Street Journal''
described genealogy as a $200 million per year industry ranging from
individual researchers to multi-million dollar companies.
In addition, the growth of the Internet has spurred interest in
genealogy and a rapidly growing number of hobbyists pursuing genealogy.
According to the ``Occupational Outlook Quarterly'' (Bureau of Labor
Statistics, Fall 2000), a 1997 survey of certified genealogists found
that 57 percent work part-time, 34 percent work full-time, and 9
percent are hobbyists. In 2001, there were over 300 certified
genealogists, and currently, the Association of Professional
Genealogists has 1,600 members worldwide http://www.apgen.org. The
National Genealogical Society notes:
Some professional genealogists are employed as librarians,
archivists, editors or research assistants to established
professionals; others work for genealogical firms. Most, however,
choose self-employment-learning business principles to ensure the
success of their genealogical practice. As with other
entrepreneurial fields, most make the move gradually from their
original field of employment, building a practice--be it a client
base, writing outlets, or some other venue--before moving full-time
into genealogy. Some make this career switch in mid-life. Others
choose genealogy as a second career upon retirement from their first
one. Because genealogical degree programs are still relatively rare,
only a few enjoy the opportunity to make genealogy their first
career. No accurate count exists for the number of individuals
employed as genealogists, full-time and part-time (http://
www.ngsgenealogy.org/articles/profession.cfm)."
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Missouri University of Science and Technology EMSE Programs
It's limited for now to US Defense Department employees, but this is a defined online program for MS and PhD which goes beyond the usual "certificate" pablum:
http://emse.mst.edu/defense_acquisition_university/DAU_Home.html.
This will give this school experience with distance programs. Maybe they have resources of a broader nature.
M.S. Degree in Engineering Management
Engineering Management is the art and science of planning, organizing, allocating resources, and directing and controlling activities. The field of engineering management has become recognized as a professional discipline with a critical role in industry, business, and modern society. The M.S. degree in Engineering Management requires 30 credit hours of approved course work. The student gets the same opportunities as on-campus students but with the convenience of the instruction coming to you. The M.S. degree offers excellent preparation for the engineer or technical professional desiring to make the transition to technical manager. AT&L students may transfer approved DAU credit hours (see Missouri S&T Credit Hours for DAU Courses) to Missouri S&T to meet nine of the thirty credits required for the M.S. Engineering Management degree.
All M.S. Engineering Management students take the following four core courses:
EMGT 314 – Management for Engineers & Scientists
EMGT 361 - Project Management
EMGT 352 – Activity Based Accounting & Financial Decision Making
EMGT 365 – Operations Management Science
The remaining six courses are taken from a specialty area which includes the following:
Management of Technology
Financial Engineering
Project Management
Quality
Ph.D. in Engineering Management
A candidate for the Ph.D. in Engineering Management must complete the equivalent of at least three years of full time work beyond the bachelor’s degree. The content of all Ph.D. programs is individually structured by the student in consultation with and approved by the student’s advisory committee. All requirements for the degree must normally be completed within an eight-year period. Ph.D. students must conduct original research under the supervision of a doctoral advisor and successfully defend the dissertation. Special arrangements are made for off-campus students to meet on-campus residences requirements and complete the original research.
Fees
The Defense Acquisition University Program with the Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Department at Missouri S&T provides for reduced fees for the course taken by AT&L personnel. The current fee schedule is $755 per credit hour. This is a substantial discount to the normal non-resident fee for distance students.
Admissions
Admission application and acceptance rules for distance students are the same as those of traditional on-campus students with only slight variations in required forms. Students complete the appropriate forms according to their program choice and submit to Distance and Continuing Education (DCE) along with payment information for the application fee ($50).
Graduate Application
Students may apply for admission to individual courses, certificate programs, or graduate degree programs.
http://emse.mst.edu/defense_acquisition_university/DAU_Home.html.
This will give this school experience with distance programs. Maybe they have resources of a broader nature.
M.S. Degree in Engineering Management
Engineering Management is the art and science of planning, organizing, allocating resources, and directing and controlling activities. The field of engineering management has become recognized as a professional discipline with a critical role in industry, business, and modern society. The M.S. degree in Engineering Management requires 30 credit hours of approved course work. The student gets the same opportunities as on-campus students but with the convenience of the instruction coming to you. The M.S. degree offers excellent preparation for the engineer or technical professional desiring to make the transition to technical manager. AT&L students may transfer approved DAU credit hours (see Missouri S&T Credit Hours for DAU Courses) to Missouri S&T to meet nine of the thirty credits required for the M.S. Engineering Management degree.
All M.S. Engineering Management students take the following four core courses:
EMGT 314 – Management for Engineers & Scientists
EMGT 361 - Project Management
EMGT 352 – Activity Based Accounting & Financial Decision Making
EMGT 365 – Operations Management Science
The remaining six courses are taken from a specialty area which includes the following:
Management of Technology
Financial Engineering
Project Management
Quality
Ph.D. in Engineering Management
A candidate for the Ph.D. in Engineering Management must complete the equivalent of at least three years of full time work beyond the bachelor’s degree. The content of all Ph.D. programs is individually structured by the student in consultation with and approved by the student’s advisory committee. All requirements for the degree must normally be completed within an eight-year period. Ph.D. students must conduct original research under the supervision of a doctoral advisor and successfully defend the dissertation. Special arrangements are made for off-campus students to meet on-campus residences requirements and complete the original research.
Fees
The Defense Acquisition University Program with the Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Department at Missouri S&T provides for reduced fees for the course taken by AT&L personnel. The current fee schedule is $755 per credit hour. This is a substantial discount to the normal non-resident fee for distance students.
Admissions
Admission application and acceptance rules for distance students are the same as those of traditional on-campus students with only slight variations in required forms. Students complete the appropriate forms according to their program choice and submit to Distance and Continuing Education (DCE) along with payment information for the application fee ($50).
Graduate Application
Students may apply for admission to individual courses, certificate programs, or graduate degree programs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)